Salvation Army food giveaway attracts over 180 families

View full sizeErich T. Doerr | Bay City TimesVolunteers pass out food to people in need during Thursday's Salvation Army food giveaway at 401 10th Street. Over 180 families received assistance during the event.

BAY CITY — The Salvation Army’s monthly food giveaway was held Thursday at its Bay City headquarters, 401 10th St.

The crowd was somewhat smaller than the group that showed up for February’s giveaway as Salvation Army officials confirmed 187 Bay County families had received assistance by 10:30 a.m., compared to almost 300 last month.

“It went awesome but I don’t think there were as many people,” Salvation Army volunteer Terry Watson said.

The food for the event came from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint and according to Watson, the truck bringing it arrived at about 8 a.m. She added it took about 30 to 45 minutes to unload the truck before the giveaway started at 9 a.m., one hour earlier than the originally scheduled 10 a.m. start.

“Whenever the truck unloads we start,” Watson said, adding that people were lining up for the event by 7 a.m.

Foods distributed included various canned goods, juice, pop, flour, breads, cereal, bottled water and even some Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. For those who attended the event, the free food is often very welcome. Such is the case for Bay City’s Zach McKinley who came with his fiancé.

“Our food stamps don’t come until the end of the month,” McKinley said. “We have to provide for the kids. This definitely helps out.”

McKinley does not come to the event every month; he said this was his second time coming over the past few months. He added both he and his family also receive assistance from The Salvation Army’s soup kitchen program.

Many of the event’s volunteers also receive assistance from the program including Watson and Bay City’s Joseph Petrimoulx. While Petrimoulx received food he did not intend to keep it and instead was giving it to his brother who just moved into an apartment in Auburn.

“Family is important,” Petrimoulx said. “You have to stick with your family.”

Petrimoulx has volunteered at many Salvation Army events including the food giveaway. He also volunteers as a bell ringer during the holidays, among other events.